The Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS)
has added North Carolina to the regulated area for Emerald Ash Borer (EAB).
According to APHIS they are adding NC at the request of state, “in response to
the detections of EAB in multiple counties throughout North Carolina.”
Regulated areas’ purpose is to prevent EAB from moving to
other states. “Federal Order outlines specific
conditions for the interstate movement of EAB-regulated articles from the
quarantined areas in North Carolina”. These conditions include interstate
movement of host wood for EAB and wood products from areas under quarantine. Firewood
of all hardwood species, nursery stock, green lumber, waste, compost, and chips
of ash species are in the category of wood products.
“The interstate movement of
firewood from quarantined areas is an especially high-risk pathway for the
spread of EAB.” APHIS is working with ‘state cooperators and foresters’ to help
prevent the man-made spread of EAB, use controls (biological or otherwise) and increase
the public’s awareness about the dangers of moving firewood.
States currently managing EAB with quarantined areas include
Arkansas, Colorado, Georgia, Kansas, Louisiana, Maryland, Minnesota, New
Hampshire, North Carolina, Tennessee, Wisconsin, and the District of Columbia.
States entirely quarantined include Connecticut, Iowa, Kentucky, Massachusetts,
Missouri, New York, Pennsylvania, Virginia and now North Carolina.